Controlling database copyrights

ABSTRACT

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a utilization permit key may be pre-defined to permit at least one of displaying, editing, storing, copying, and/or transferring of digital data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.08/895,493 filed Jul. 16, 1997, which in turn is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 08/416,037 filed Mar. 31, 1995, now abandoned.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to utilizing, storing, copying, editingand/or transferring of digital data.

2. BACKGROUND ART

In the information oriented society of today, database systems arebecoming wide spread in which it is possible to use various types ofdata, stored independently by each computer in the past, by connectingcomputers via communication lines.

In such a database system, the information handled up to this point hasbeen conventionally coded information that can be processed by computer,and that contains a relatively small amount of information andmonochrome binary data, such as facsimile information at the most. It isnot possible to handle data containing a relatively large amount ofinformation, such as data for natural pictures or animation.

With the rapid progress of digital processing techniques for varioustypes of electrical signals, a technique is under development fordigital processing of picture signals other than binary data, handledonly as analog signals in the past.

By digitizing the picture signal, it is possible to handle a picturesignal, such as television signal, by computer. As a technique of thefuture, attention is now focused on “multimedia systems”, which cansimultaneously handle the data processed by computers and digitizedpicture data. Because the picture data contains an overwhelmingly largeamount of information compared with character data and audio data, it isdifficult to store, transfer or process the picture data by computer.For this reason, techniques for compressing and expanding picture datahave been developed. Further, several standards forcompression/expansion of picture data have been established. Forexample, the following standards have been established as commonstandards: JPEG (Joint Photographic image coding Experts Group)standards for still pictures, H.261 standards for televisionconferences, MPEG1 (Moving Picture image coding Experts Group 1)standards for picture accumulation, and MPEG2 standards to cope withcurrent television broadcasting and high definition televisionbroadcasting. By implementing these new techniques, it is now possibleto transmit digital picture data in real time.

For analog data, which has been widely used in the past, the control ofcopyrights during processing has not been an important issue because thequality of the analog data deteriorates each time the data is stored,copied, edited or transferred. However, the quality of digital data doesnot deteriorate even when the data is repeatedly stored, copied, editedor transferred. Therefore, the management and control of copyrightsduring processing of digital data is an important issue.

Up to now, there has been no adequate method for management and controlof copyrights for digital data. It has been managed and controlledmerely by copyright law or by contracts. In copyright law, onlycompensation for digital sound and picture recording devices has beenprescribed.

It is possible not only to refer to the content of a database, but alsoto effectively utilize the data obtained from the database by storing,copying or editing the data, and also transferring the edited data toother persons or to the database with the edited data registered as newdata.

In a conventional database system, only character data is handled.However, in multimedia systems, sound data and picture data, which areoriginally analog data, are digitized and used as part of the databasein addition to the other data in the database, such as character data.

Under such circumstances, it is an important question as to how tohandle copyrights of the data in the database. However, there are nomeans in the prior art for copyright management and control of suchactions as copying, editing, transferring, etc., of data.

A system for executing copyright control by using encrypted data andobtaining a permit key from a key control center via public telephonelines is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 4-199942 (U.S. Ser.No. 08/098,415) and Japanese Patent Application 4-289074 (U.S. Ser. No.08/143,912) of the present inventors. A device for this purpose isdisclosed in Japanese Patent Application 4-276941 (U.S. Ser. No.08/135,634), also of the present inventors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method forcontrolling copyrights in the display (including the process ofproviding sound), storage, copying, editing and transfer of digital datain a database system including real time transmission of digitalpictures.

For the control of copyrights in the database system to which thepresent invention is applied, it is essential to transmit one or more ofcopyright information; i.e., messages of copyright control, informationabout copyrights and a program for controlling copyrights, whennecessary, in addition to a key for enabling users who wish to useencrypted data.

The copyright control message is displayed on a screen and advises orwarns the user if the data is being utilized in a manner inconsistentwith the conditions of the user's request or permission. The copyrightcontrol program watches and controls data use so that the data is notutilized beyond the conditions of the user's request or permission.

The copyright control program, the copyright information and thecopyright control message are supplied together with a permit key insome cases, but they may also be supplied together with data in othercases. It is also possible to supply a part of them together with thepermit key, and to supply the other part with the data.

For the data, the permit key, the copyright control message, thecopyright information and the copyright control program, there are thefollowing three cases: they are transmitted in encrypted form anddecrypted upon use; they are transmitted in encrypted form and decryptedonly when they are displayed; or they are not encrypted at all.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate examples of display messages of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate structures for television signals.

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3J illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate structures of embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate structures of embodiments of the presentinvention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, description will be given on embodiments of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the permit key and database data may be obtainedvia different communication routes, with the permit key being obtainedfrom a key control center via public telephone lines. However, if acharging method is arranged, it is also possible to obtain the permitkey via the same communication system through which the database data issupplied.

Previous systems have not considered secondary exploitation ofcopyrighted data, such as forms of use involving storing, copying,editing, transferring, etc. of data. Also, these previous systems do notconsider distribution of data outside a LAN to which the users belong.Therefore, these previous systems are not adequate to cope withsecondary exploitation of data unless the users of the data choose tohonor the copyright of the data.

To cope with various forms of the secondary exploitation as describedabove, in the present invention a plurality of permit keys are preparedto match each form of use, and no utilization is possible unless thereis a permit key suitable for the desired form of use. As to the forms ofuse available for a database, there are display, storage, copying, edit,transfer, etc. Examples of implementing these forms of use in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention are shown in FIGS. 4A to 4E. Inthese Figures, double-framed parts show that data is encrypted.

FIG. 4A illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to auser is displayed. The encrypted data is first decrypted by a displaypermit key, and the data thus decrypted is displayed.

FIG. 4B illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is edited. The encrypted data is first decrypted by an edit permitkey, and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Subsequently, editing isperformed on the decrypted data.

FIG. 4C illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is stored. The encrypted data is first decrypted by a storagepermit key, and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Subsequently, thedecrypted data is stored.

FIG. 4D illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is copied. The encrypted data is first decrypted by a copy permitkey, and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Subsequently, thedecrypted data is copied.

FIG. 4E illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is transferred. The encrypted data is first decrypted by a transferpermit key, and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Subsequently, thedecrypted data is transferred.

The permit keys suitable for these forms of use should be prepared,However, in the case where the ability to execute several forms of useat the same time is desired, it is necessary to obtain a plurality ofpermit keys. If the user fails to obtain the permit keys, the desiredform of use may not be executed.

To avoid such situations, a permit key can be used which makes itpossible to execute several forms of use. Hierarchical permit keys canbe used such that an upper level key also fulfills the function of alower level key. For example, from lower level to upper level, thehierarchy is defined as: display<storage<copying<edit<transfer. With thedisplay permit key, only display operations can be executed. Display andstorage operations can be executed by the storage permit key. Display,storage and copying operations can be executed by the copying permitkey. Display, storage, copying and edit operations can be executed bythe edit permit key. Display, storage, copying, edit and transferoperations can be executed by the transfer permit key.

On the relation of keys, it is possible to order key hierarchy fromlower-level to upper-level in the order of:storage<copying<transfer<display<edit. Specifically, the order is set insuch manner that storage operations can be executed by a storage permitkey; storage and copying operations can be executed by a copying permitkey; storage, copying and transfer operations can be executed by atransfer permit key; storage, copying, transfer and display operationscan be executed by a display permit key; and storage, copying, transfer,display and edit operations can be executed by an edit permit key.

In this system, storage, copying and transfer are placed at a lowerlevel than display because, even when storage, copying and transferoperations are executed on the data, it is difficult and meaningless toutilize the data since it cannot be displayed. It is necessary todisplay the data in order to utilize the data. This hierarchicalarrangement is best suited to a system, in which encrypted data aresupplied and are utilized using a permit key.

The permit key is usually offered to the user on payment basis.Therefore, except where data utilization is unlimited, the number oftimes the permit key may be used is limited to one time or severaltimes.

Because the data can be used if there is a permit key, it is possible touse the data beyond the permitted range if the permit key is duplicatedor falsified. To prevent this, the permit key is encrypted.

In an embodiment of the invention, copyright control is enforced by acopyright control program. The forms of use which are allowed orprohibited by the copyright control program include storing, displaying,copying, editing, transferring, etc. of data. In the case where it isnecessary to limit the number of usage times or the forms of use, amessage for such purpose may be displayed by the program. Information onthe original copyright, and subsequent copyrights for subsequenteditions, may be given to the data to ensure complete copyright control.Thus, damage to a data supplier or user, due to falsification ofcopyright information, is prevented.

In the case where it is necessary to limit the number of usage times orto limit forms of use, it is desirable to display a message for suchpurpose.

In the case where the information under copyright is falsified, the datasupplier or the user may suffer damages. This must be prevented.

To ensure complete copyright control, information on the originalcopyright and information on secondary and tertiary copyrights for theedition of the data are given to the data.

The above copyright control is executed by the copyright controlprogram.

In a conventional database system, the data itself is offered in acompletely defenseless state. Therefore, copyright control can beexecuted only when data is taken out of the database. In the subsequentcopyright control, there is no other way but to rely on the conscienceof the user and to take necessary measures when the data is utilizedbeyond the permitted range of use.

For this reason, in an embodiment of the invention, the data suppliedfrom the database is left in an encrypted state, and storage is executedunder this condition. In addition, copying and transfer are alsoexecuted in the encrypted state. Decrypting is performed only in displayand edit operations, and these are controlled by the copyright controlprogram. Examples of implementing each form of use in accordance withanother embodiment of the invention are shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E. Inthese Figures, double-framed parts show that data is encrypted.

FIG. 5A illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is displayed, The encrypted data is decrypted by a display permitkey, and the data thus decrypted is displayed.

FIG. 5B illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is edited. The encrypted data is decrypted using an edit permitkey, and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Subsequently, thedecrypted data is edited.

FIG. 5C illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is stored. The encrypted data is decrypted using a storage permitkey, and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Prior to storing thedata, the data is encrypted again using the storing permit key. Thus, inthis embodiment, the data cannot be stored in the decrypted state.

FIG. 5D illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is copied. The encrypted data is decrypted by a copy permit key,and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Prior to copying of the data,the data is encrypted again using the copy permit key. Thus, in thisembodiment, the data cannot be copied in the decrypted state.

FIG. 5E illustrates the case in which the encrypted data supplied to theuser is transferred. The encrypted data is decrypted by a transferpermit key, and the data thus decrypted is displayed. Prior totransferring the data, the data is encrypted again by the transferpermit key. Thus, in this embodiment, the data cannot be transferred inthe decrypted state.

In so doing, it is impossible to use the data beyond the permittedrange. In this case, the copyright control program may be integratedwith the data or may be encrypted.

Because the copyright control program is encrypted and the permit keydecrypts the copyright control program, and because the copyrightcontrol program decrypts and encrypts the data, the data is encryptedtwice.

In this case, if a crypt key unique to the data is added to thecopyright control program for the purpose of encrypting the data, it isimpossible to decrypt the data if the copyright control program isseparated from the data.

In this copyright control program, even if the data is stored, copied ortransferred within the permitted range of use, and if these operationsare executed after the data and the copyright control program have beenencrypted, it is impossible to use the data in an undesired manner.

If an operator uses a computer program inadequately and, as a result,the computer does not respond any more or computer operation is stopped,an error message is displayed so that the operator may know the cause.Similarly, if a user of the database erroneously uses the data beyondthe permitted range of the permit key, and, as a result, the computerdoes not respond or operation is stopped, the user cannot understand thecause. In this case, a copyright control message is displayed by thecopyright control program.

The display of the copyright control message as described above alsofulfills the function of providing a warning if the user intentionallyuses the data beyond the range of use permitted by the permit key.

In general, various programs are incorporated into read-only memory(ROM) inside the equipment which the user uses, or the programs aresupplied from software. When the programs are incorporated into ROM,there is no possibility that the programs may be changed. However, theequipment is limited to systems that contain the ROM. On the other hand,when the programs are supplied from software, there is no systemlimitation if the programs are transferred. However, there is apossibility that the programs may be altered to prevent alteration ofthe copyright control program in the present invention, the copyrightcontrol program should be encrypted.

The database is utilized by various users using various types ofdevices. Therefore, if the programs for controlling copyrights aresupplied as software, it is necessary to cope with various types ofdevices. In this case, it is necessary to modify the program accordingto the device that the user uses. In one embodiment of the invention, atranslation program to translate the copyright control program isprovided in the communication software of the device which the useruses. The copyright control program can then be translated by thetranslation program so that it suits the device.

Even though the permit key for using the database may become morecomplicated due to encryption, a data size of several tens of bites issufficient. Therefore, the time required for transmitting the permit keyis far shorter than one second. In other words, even when apayment-based public telephone line is used and other information istransmitted together with the permit key, the increase in cost isnegligible. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, when transmitting the permitkey, the copyright control program may also be transmitted utilizingsurplus time.

In FIG. 3C, the copyright control program is supplied together with thedata, and the entire data utilization process is placed under control ofthe copyright control program. For example, the data supplied inencrypted form cannot be decrypted unless the copyright program suppliedwith it is used. If there is no such copyright control program, the datacannot be used. Thus, integration of the copyright control program withthe data further reinforces copyright control.

Description will now be provided on the supply of copyright controlmessages. The following are some examples of the copyright controlmessage: “Need a display permit key.” “Need a storage permit key.” “Needa copying permit key.” “Need a edit permit key.” “Need a transfer permitkey.”

Some other examples are: “Display unavailable.” “Storage unavailable.”“Copy unavailable.” “Edit unavailable.” “Transfer unavailable.”

These copyright control messages are displayed alone as shown in FIG. 1Aor in combination as shown in FIG. 1B.

To display the copyright control message, the message must be stored inthe memory of the device which the user uses, The memory in the deviceis classified as ROM and random-access memory (RAM).

The method of storing the messages in ROM is reliable, but there is alimitation to the device because the user must use the ROM wherein thecopyright control messages are stored.

As for methods for storing messages in RAM, there is a method forsupplying messages together with the permit key, a method for supplyingmessages together with the copyright control program, and a method forsupplying messages together with the data. When the permit key and thecopyright control program are supplied at the same time, the copyrightcontrol message can also be supplied at the same time.

The copyright control message is not effective unless an adequatemessage is displayed. For this reason, the copyright control messagecannot play its designed role if the message is changed in such a mannerthat no substantial content is displayed, or further, if its content isdeleted such that nothing is displayed. To prevent this trouble, themessage is encrypted.

The display of the copyright control message is executed by thecopyright control program. The modes of display are as follows. (1) Whenan operation is attempted with no adequate key available, acorresponding message is displayed. (2) All messages corresponding tooperations available for the current permit key are displayed, if anoperation is attempted without an available permit key.

The copyright control message is supplied together with the permit keyas shown in FIG. 3D, or together with the data as shown in FIG. 3E.

The copyright control message is transmitted by transmitting allmessages or only the necessary messages required. In the former case,the quantity of information is relatively large, but security is high.In the latter case, the quantity of information is relatively small, butsecurity is low.

It is desirable that the copyright control message be inseparable fromthe data, as in the case of the copyright control program. This may befacilitated by integrating the copyright control message with thecopyright control program.

To display the copyright on printed matter, the name of the author andthe date are used. The copyright of the database is displayed byentering information such as the name of the author and the date.

As described above, edit and up-load of edited data are included in theuse of the data in the database. Specifically, the presence of secondarydata, which is edited from the data, i.e. a work of authorship, isrecognized. To ensure the copyright of the data in this context, it isnecessary to store the information on original authorship and secondaryauthorship together with the data. When the data is used in a mannerother than for down-loading and display, copyright information includinginformation on the operator, in addition to the copyright informationstored up to that moment, is stored together with the data as history.

In this case, only the person who controls the database can put theoriginal authorship into the database as primary data. All data handledby other than the person in charge of database control is consideredsecondary data. Control of the data history is therefore furtherreinforced.

When the copyright information is separated from data which is a work ofauthorship, it becomes extremely difficult to recognize the copyright.Thus, it is necessary that the copyright information be inseparable fromthe data.

To prevent separation of the copyright information from the data, amethod for integrating the data with the copyright information or amethod for making the data unusable without copyright information aredescribed. These methods are similar to the methods described above forthe copyright control program and the copyright control message.

First, description will be given for a method for integrating the datawith the copyright information.

The data handled by computer comprises a file header indicating dataname and size, and a file body, which comprises the main body of data.Therefore, for integrating the data with the copyright information,there are methods that integrate the copyright information with the fileheader, that integrate the copyright information with the file body, andthat use other means for this purpose.

Among these methods, the method that integrates the copyrightinformation with the file header, if the data is character informationexpressed with character code, the copyright information may beintegrated even without a file header. Thus, the method is simple, butnot very reliable. Also, because the capacity of the file header is nothigh, it is not sufficient if there is a large amount of copyrightinformation.

Digital picture data and digital sound data are grouped together under acommon group header. The copyright information can be integrated intothis group header. However, there is a problem of header capacitysimilar to the case for the file header.

For the method of integrating the copyright information with the filebody, one way is to add copyright information for each piece of dataedited. Another way is to add the copyright information all together.

To add the copyright information for each edited piece of data, thecopyright information is appended to each piece of edited data using acut-and-paste procedure. This is not only complicated butdisadvantageous in that the entire file data becomes too big.

If the picture data indicates the copyright of original authorship, itis easy to identify corresponding data. Thus, it is not always necessaryto add the copyright information to each minimum unit of the editeddata.

It is also possible to write the copyright information into thecopyright control program. In this method, it is difficult to manipulatethe copyright information if it is written into the copyright controlprogram integrated with the data as already described.

If the data is a picture signal, it is necessary to have synchronizationsignal data in order to define scanning line, field and frame. Thissynchronization signal has high redundancy and is generally representedwith variable-length code. Thus, the copyright information can be mixedwith the variable-length code. The number of scanning lines is 480 forVGA standards. By utilizing this method, a considerable quantity ofinformation can be mixed into the picture signal.

If the picture data is an animated picture, it is possible to write asufficient quantity of copyright information using this method, However,if the picture data is a still picture edited by a cut-and-pasteprocedure, there may not be enough space to add the copyrightinformation.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B represent structures for an analog television signaland a digital television signal. FIG. 2A represents an analog televisionsignal, and FIG. 2B shows a digital television signal.

A signal containing other than picture data, such as the multiplexteletext signal in analog television, is inserted by utilizing thevertical retrace interval. The horizontal retrace interval is notutilized.

In contrast, in digital television, it is possible for a copyrightcontrol program or other multiplex teletext signal to be placed intohorizontal scanning data or into vertical scanning data.

As a method for integrating the copyright information with data, one wayis to write the copyright information into the data itself, and anotheris to write it into the control code.

With the data used in a computer, there is control code for controllingthe communication system or computer system, in addition to the data tobe displayed on screen or used for some operation. This control codecannot be seen by the user. Therefore, if the copyright information iswritten into the control code, the copyright information thus writtendoes not cause trouble for the user.

It is also possible to enter the copyright information into the files ofthe computer using the technique of a computer virus without affectingthe operation itself.

The copyright information may be supplied together with the permit keyas shown in FIG. 3F, or it may be supplied together with data as shownin FIG. 3G.

Attention has been focused in recent years on digital signatures. Adigital signature is prepared using a private key, which only the ownerknows, and the file size of the document data. If the document data ischanged, the change can be confirmed by the private key. The content ofthe document data can be seen at any time by others using a public key.Thus, this scheme offers very high security.

The data in a computer can be changed without leaving any trace. Becauseof this, an author may not notice that his copyright is infringed, or auser may use the data without known that the content of the data hasbeen changed. To prevent this, a digital signature is attached to thedata, and damage to the copyright owner or the user can be avoided.

The permit key, copyright control program, copyright control message,and copyright information can be combined in any way as necessary toactualize the method for controlling database copyrights.

Also, it is possible to design in such a manner that only a part of thedata of the copyright control program, the copyright control message orthe copyright information is supplied together with the permit key andthe other part is supplied together with the data to be utilized (asshown in FIGS. 3H, 3I and 3J). The part supplied with the permit key andthe part supplied together with the data are combined. The functions ofthe complete permit key maybe served after they have been combinedtogether.

Thus, it is possible to give the function of the permit key to thecopyright program and copyright control message, and higher security isensured.

1. A method, comprising: decrypting encrypted digital data usingutilization permit key; preventing displaying of digital data if theutilization permit key does not comprise a display permit key;preventing storage of digital data if the utilization permit key doesnot comprise a storage permit key; preventing copying of digital data ifthe utilization permit key does not comprise a copy permit key;preventing editing of digital data if the utilization permit key doesnot comprise a edit permit key; and preventing transferring of digitaldata if the utilization permit key does not comprise a transfer permitkey.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at least apart of a copyright control program from a key control center.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising receiving at least a part of acopyright control program from a key control center together with one ofone of the following comprising: said utilization permit key, and/orsaid encrypted digital data, or combinations thereof.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: receiving part of a copyright controlprogram from a database; and receiving another part of said copyrightcontrol program from a key control center.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving part of a copyright control program from adatabase together with one or more of the following comprising: saidutilization permit key, and/or said encrypted digital data, orcombinations thereof; and receiving another part of said copyrightcontrol program from a key control center together with one or more ofthe following comprising: said utilization permit key, and/or saidencrypted digital data, or combinations thereof.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising limiting, by a copyright control program, a numberof times the digital data is used.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising limiting, by a copyright control program, a number of timessaid utilization permit key is used.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising maintaining, by a copyright control program, copyrightinformation on the digital data.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising maintaining, by a copyright control program, copyrightinformation on the digital data, wherein the copyright informationincludes history information on authorship.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising: warning against displaying of digital data if theutilization permit key does not comprise a display permit key; warningagainst storage of digital data if the utilization permit key does notcomprise a storage permit key; warning against copying of digital dataif the one or more utilization permit keys do not comprise a copy permitkey; warning against editing of digital data if the utilization permitkey does not comprise a edit permit key; and warning againsttransferring of digital data if the utilization permit key does notcomprise a transfer permit key.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein eachutilization permit key comprises only one of the following: said displaypermit key, said storage permit key, said copy permit key, said editpermit key, or said transfer permit key.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein one or more utilization permit keys comprise one or more of thefollowing: said display permit key, said storage permit key, said copypermit key, said edit permit key, and/or said transfer permit key, orcombinations thereof.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein one or moreutilization permit keys comprise two or more of the following: saiddisplay permit key, said storage permit key, said copy permit key, saidedit permit key, and/or said transfer permit key, or combinationsthereof.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said utilization key ishierarchized; and said utilization key at an upper hierarchy levelincludes a function of said utilization key at a lower hierarchy level.15. The method of claim 1, further comprising requiring reencryption ofsaid decrypted digital data when performing one or more of the followingcomprising: storage of digital data, copying of digital data, and/ortransferring of digital data, or combinations thereof.
 16. An apparatus,comprising: a computing platform capable of: decrypting encrypteddigital data using one or more utilization permit keys; preventingdisplaying of digital data if the one or more utilization permit keys donot comprise a display permit key; preventing storage of digital data ifthe one or more utilization permit keys do not comprise a storage permitkey; preventing copying of digital data if the one or more utilizationpermit keys do not comprise a copy permit key; preventing editing ofdigital data if the one or more utilization permit keys do not comprisean edit permit key; preventing transferring of digital data if the oneor more utilization permit keys do not comprise a transfer permit key;and wherein one or more utilization permit key comprises only one of thefollowing: said display permit key, said storage permit key, said copypermit key, said edit permit key, or said transfer permit key.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the computing platform is further capableof receiving at least a part of a copyright control program from a keycontrol center.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the computingplatform is further capable of receiving at least a part of a copyrightcontrol program from a key control center together with one of one ofthe following comprising: said one or more utilization permit keys,and/or said encrypted digital data, or combinations thereof.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the computing platform is further capableof: receiving part of a copyright control program from a database; andreceiving another part of said copyright control program from a keycontrol center.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the computingplatform is further capable of: receiving part of a copyright controlprogram from a database together with one of one of the followingcomprising: said one or more utilization permit keys, and/or saidencrypted digital data, or combinations thereof; and receiving anotherpart of said copyright control program from a key control centertogether with one of one of the following comprising: said one or moreutilization permit keys, and/or said encrypted digital data, orcombinations thereof.
 21. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprisinglimiting, by a copyright control program, a number of times the digitaldata is used.
 22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprisinglimiting, by a copyright control program, a number of times said one ormore utilization permit keys are used.
 23. The apparatus of claim 16,further comprising maintaining, by a copyright control program,copyright information on the digital data.
 24. The apparatus of claim16, further comprising maintaining, by a copyright control program,copyright information on the digital data, wherein the copyrightinformation includes history information on authorship.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 16, further comprising: warning against displaying ofdigital data if the one or more utilization permit keys do not comprisea display permit key; warning against storage of digital data if the oneor more utilization permit keys do not comprise a storage permit key;warning against copying of digital data if the one or more utilizationpermit keys do not comprise a copy permit key; warning against editingof digital data if the one or more utilization permit keys do notcomprise a edit permit key; and warning against transferring of digitaldata if the one or more utilization permit keys do not comprise atransfer permit key.
 26. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprisingrequiring reencryption of said decrypted digital data when performingone or more of the following comprising: storage of digital data,copying of digital data, and/or transferring of digital data, orcombinations thereof.
 27. An article comprising: a storage medium havingstored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in: decryptingencrypted digital data using utilization permit key; preventingdisplaying of digital data if the utilization permit key does notcomprise a display permit key; preventing storage of digital data if theutilization permit key does not comprise a storage permit key;preventing copying of digital data if the utilization permit key doesnot comprise a copy permit key; preventing editing of digital data ifthe utilization permit key does not comprise an edit permit key;preventing transferring of digital data if the utilization permit keydoes not comprise a transfer permit key; and wherein said utilizationpermit key comprises two or more of the following: said display permitkey, said storage permit key, said copy permit key, said edit permitkey, and/or said transfer permit key, or combinations thereof.
 28. Thearticle of claim 27, further comprising receiving at least a part of acopyright control program from a key control center.
 29. The article ofclaim 27, further comprising receiving at least a part of a copyrightcontrol program from a key control center together with one of one ofthe following comprising: said utilization permit key, and/or saidencrypted digital data, or combinations thereof.
 30. The article ofclaim 27, further comprising: receiving part of a copyright controlprogram from a database; and receiving another part of said copyrightcontrol program from a key control center.
 31. The article of claim 27,further comprising: receiving part of a copyright control program from adatabase together with one of one of the following comprising: saidutilization permit key, and/or said encrypted digital data, orcombinations thereof; and receiving another part of said copyrightcontrol program from a key control center together with one of one ofthe following comprising: said utilization permit key, and/or saidencrypted digital data, or combinations thereof.
 32. The article ofclaim 27, further comprising limiting, by a copyright control program, anumber of times the digital data is used.
 33. The article of claim 27,further comprising limiting, by a copyright control program, a number oftimes said utilization permit key is used.
 34. The article of claim 27,further comprising maintaining, by a copyright control program,copyright information on the digital data.
 35. The article of claim 27,further comprising maintaining, by a copyright control program,copyright information on the digital data, wherein the copyrightinformation includes history information on authorship.
 36. The articleof claim 27, further comprising: warning against displaying of digitaldata if the utilization permit key does not comprise a display permitkey; warning against storage of digital data if the utilization permitkey does not comprise a storage permit key; warning against copying ofdigital data if the one or more utilization permit keys do not comprisea copy permit key; warning against editing of digital data if theutilization permit key does not comprise a edit permit key; and warningagainst transferring of digital data if the utilization permit key doesnot comprise a transfer permit key.
 37. The article of claim 27, furthercomprising requiring reencryption of said decrypted digital data whenperforming one or more of the following comprising: storage of digitaldata, copying of digital data, and/or transferring of digital data, orcombinations thereof.
 38. The article of claim 27, wherein saidutilization key is hierarchized; and said utilization key at an upperhierarchy level includes a function of said utilization key at a lowerhierarchy level.
 39. The article of claim 27, wherein said utilizationkey is hierarchized; and said utilization key at an upper hierarchylevel includes a function of said utilization key at a lower hierarchylevel, and wherein said transfer permit key is said utilization permitkey at the highest hierarchy level.
 40. The article of claim 27, whereinsaid utilization key is hierarchized; and said utilization key at anupper hierarchy level includes a function of said utilization key at alower hierarchy level, and wherein said edit permit key is saidutilization permit key at the highest hierarchy level.